Waking the Witch

twenty-eight

A lastair was eager enough to get rid of me that he didn’t escort me to the door, which meant I could sneak over to the kitchen and check out the situation there.

If Adam was charming the girls, I didn’t want to interfere. So I slipped into the dining room with a blur spell, then exchanged it for a cover one when I could see the kitchen through the doorway. Adam was leaning against the counter, milk glass in one hand, cookie in the other, crumbs flying as he told a story about our last white-water rafting trip. I noticed he conveniently left out the part where he steered us under a waterfall, trying to get me soaked, and ended up getting drenched himself instead, courtesy of a fast knockback spell.

Planted right in front of him, staring up like a daisy at the sun, was Vee. While he glanced at the other girls as he talked, he kept most of his attention on her. I hadn’t thought to tell him that she’d approached me. He was just damned good at reading people. He’d even tailored the story to her, I realized, as she started asking questions about his gear and his favorite spots, and giving him suggestions.

As Adam talked, he glanced at the dining room doorway enough times for me to wonder whether my cover spell had failed. When I heard Megan’s footsteps in the hall, I stepped forward. Adam glanced up, eyes meeting mine, and he grinned broadly enough to earn me scowls from the girls.

“Sorry to interrupt,” I said. “I’m all done. I’ll head outside. Whenever you’re ready—”

“Right behind you,” he said. Then to the girls, his voice filled with regret, “The boss calls, and I think yours is about to.”

On cue, Megan stepped into the kitchen.

Adam turned his grin on her. “Sorry about that. They’re all yours.”

He thanked them for the cookies. I thanked Megan for letting me speak to Alastair. Then we were off. When we reached the Jeep, I glanced back to see Vee on the porch, watching us go.

“Score,” I murmured.

Adam tossed me the keys, then jogged back across the yard, gaze on the ground, as if he didn’t see Vee there. Near the porch, he reached down, scooping up some imaginary item he’d dropped, then saw her and gave a start.

“Hey, there,” he said. “I was just thinking, I should have asked you about Gray River. Someone mentioned it was great rafting. Ever tried it?”

She came down off the porch to talk to him as I started the Jeep. I revved the engine, in case Vee was worried I’d overhear. They chatted for a while—long enough for me to get warm and put down the top.

“I feel so cheap,” Adam said as he climbed into the passenger side.

“You love it.” I put the Jeep in drive and rolled out of the yard. “That was probably the best reception you’ve had in years. Surprising, too. There’s some stiff competition in this town. Cookie Cult Al. Sleaze-ball Cody. And Pickup Dude.”

“Pickup Dude?”

I nodded toward the familiar pickup roaring toward us, muffler clattering. The driver waggled his tongue at me, yellow teeth flashing.

“It’s close,” I said. “But you get my vote.”

“So do you want to know what Vee said? Or would you rather keep insulting me?”

“Just keeping that ego of yours in check. It’s a full-time job.”

“I know what that’s like,” he said with an arch look my way.

I swerved over just as agarden sprinkler arced our way. Adam swore and ducked, but didn’t quite make it. As I veered back onto the road, he ran his hands through his hair, shaking his head, water flecking the dash.

“I’m sure there’s a brush in the glove box,” I said.

“Yeah, yours.” He settled for finger-combing his hair, then settled back in his seat.

“So what’d Vee say?” I asked.

He glanced over, brows lifting.

After a moment, I sighed. “Okay, I apologize. Now, please, what did she say?”

“Well, she was a little late to the party. Megan sent her looking for the new girl, who seems to be hiding out. Can’t blame her. That Alastair guy is seriously creepy.”

“Agreed. Now, about Vee ...”

“She was late joining the others, meaning she walked past the office when you were interviewing the old guy. She heard him tell you that Ginny and Brandi had never come to the house.”

“And she said they did.”

“Yep. Megan and Alastair caught them snooping around one night when they were out tending to the animals. Vee saw the whole thing. Megan wanted to call the cops. Alastair said he’d handle it. He took Ginny and Brandi aside, talked to them, then came into the house and told Megan they wouldn’t have any more problems. She still wanted to report it, but he was adamant. Said it would only cause trouble in the town. She backed down.”

“That’s not an encounter he’s likely to have forgotten,” I said.

“Nope. If Megan’s saying she never met the girls either, then he’s told her to keep her mouth shut.”

I PARKED NEAR the Radu place, and we got out to deal with Tiffany.

“If she recognized you, we should presume she knows who I am, too,” Adam said.

“I wouldn’t.”

“Thanks.”

“I didn’t mean it like that. The only reason she knows me is because of my parents. As usual.”

“And the only way she’d know me is because of my dad. As usual.” He shook his head. “Supernaturals overshadowed by their famous parents. We should start a support group.”

“I think we already have.”

We walked along the sidewalk. Both the officers were hanging around outside the police station. They saw me and peered at Adam, whispering between themselves, then went inside. A second later, Bruyn came out. I waved. He nodded, civil enough, which was all I could hope for at this point.

“Cody lives across from the police station?” Adam said. “That doesn’t seem too bright if he’s up to his eyeballs in something illegal.”

I shrugged. “Another way of pretending he has nothing to hide.”

A kid raced between us, nearly knocking Adam off the curb. I glanced over my shoulder to see the sidewalks filling with children.

“Shit!” I said. “What time is it?”

I checked my watch. Three-thirty. I swore again. “I told Tiffany I’d be there before her kids got home. She won’t talk to us if they’re there.”

I picked up the pace. As we approached the Radu house, I heard a baby crying. That wouldn’t make things any easier—fussy baby, kids getting home ...

The Radus’ neighbor was out on his porch. An old guy in a house-coat, baggy trousers, and slippers, he looked like he’d just woken up, and from the scowls he was sending next door, I could guess what woke him.

When we started up the walk, he yelled, “Tell that girl to shut her baby up or I swear I’ll do it for her.”

“I’m sure she’s trying to,” I said.

“Not very hard. The brat’s been wailing for an hour now.” He strode to the sidewalk and yelled across the road at Bruyn. “Can’t you do something about that? She’s disturbing the peace.”

Bruyn waved, like he couldn’t hear what the old man was saying, then turned and went back inside.

“It’s a baby,” I said. “It cries. And right now you’re making a helluva lot more racket, so how about you shut it.”

He gaped at me, then glowered at Adam, as if it was his fault for not keeping me in line. Adam rang the bell. The neighbor turned to head inside, then noticed a towheaded girl in pigtails coming along, holding the hand of a smaller pigtailed blonde.

“You there,” the old man said. “Tell your mother—”

“Zip it, old man,” I said. “Go back inside and get dressed before you get arrested for flashing little girls.”

Adam chuckled and stepped aside to let the girls get to the door.

“We were just ringing for your mom,” he said. “I think she can’t hear with the baby crying.”

The older girl nodded shyly, eyes down. She tugged on the screen door. Adam held it open for her. The girl turned the knob, but the inside door didn’t budge.

“It’s locked,” she said.

“Mommy must be having her nap,” the younger one said as her sister rang the bell. “She takes a nap when Taylor does and she always locks the door. She usually sets her alarm, but if she’s really tired, she forgets.”

“Do you have a key?” Adam asked.

Both girls shook their heads. “Mom’s always home,” the older one said.

“Can I try it?” I asked.

The girl nodded. I cast an unlock spell under my breath and turned the knob.

“Huh,” I said. “Must have just been stuck. Go on in. Tell your mom we’re here.”

The older one glanced back to make sure we weren’t going to follow them. I let the screen door close. Inside, the baby’s howls turned to whimpers as she heard her sisters.

“Mommy!” the younger one said, racing past her sister as she dropped her backpack. “We’re home! Did you make the cupcakes? My teacher said I need two dozen for the bake sale and—Mommy? Come on, Mommy. Wake up!” Giggles erupted, punctuated by squeaking springs.

“Don’t jump on the bed,” her sister said. “Mom?”

There was a pause, a long one, and my heart started thumping. Adam gripped my elbow, reassuring.

The older girl ran into the hall. She saw us and started, like she’d forgotten we were there.

“Is everything okay?” I called through the screen.

“It’s Mom. She won’t wake up.”